Reader Input Requested — and a $10 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!

My last blog post proved to be so much fun (when I asked for reader suggestions for unusual hero/heroine occupations) that I decided to pose another question this month! First of all, thank you. We authors couldn’t do what we do (that is, live in a story world with our characters a good majority of the time) without you, dear readers! Trust me when I say we sincerely appreciate that you buy/borrow our books. Time is a precious commodity, and it’s a true honor when you spend your valuable time reading our stories.

If you could, what’s ONE thing you’d like to tell contemporary Christian romance writers? But keep reading first. . .

You might be scratching your head and thinking what on earth is she talking about now? It can be an observation, an opinion, or a personal insight/preference.Put it this way: have you ever wanted to throw your Kindle, phone, or a book across the room? If so, why? Or (for the optimists), have you ever loved, loved, LOVED a book so much that you want to shout to the world about how great it is? Again, tell me why. What made that particular book stand out in your mind?

Here are some suggestions to jump-start your thinking:

*Book covers (example: people vs. a pretty scene or symbol or why do these people have their arms around each other when they’re not REALLY together until the end?)*Settings (example: urban is awesome or small-town rules!) *Characters (example: give me some depth but don’t tell me every single thing they eat for every meal!) *Plots (example: I hate the secret baby or love triangle plot but give me a fish-out-of-water romance any day!)*Book Blurbs (example: whet my appetite but don’t give away the farm!)

No author names and no book titles, please. Just give me an idea about what upset or otherwise perturbed, disturbed, or bothered you. Or what you loved so much. I understand we all have different tastes in authors, books, plots, etc. Some readers appreciate detailed or descriptive writing, and some do not. Some prefer novellas while others want a long read. See what I mean? That’s why it’s so marvelous that there are many different Christian romance authors out there to suit our preferences! Amen? Of course, authors also realize that while a reader may like one book, they may not like another book from the same author. I liken it to a favorite actor. While you may love his/her work, it’s virtually impossible to love every movie he/she has ever made!

I certainly do not wish to stir up any debates, but a lively discussion is always a good thing with a shared understanding of our varying tastes and personal likes/dislikes. This is your moment to be heard, so please speak up!

Image purchased from depositphotos

Let me give you an example, and this is one of my personal pet peeves—when a hero in a book thinks, acts, and/or speaks like a woman. That drives me absolutely crazy, especially if they’re supposed to be strong and manly. I’m not talking about a man who has a soft spot for children because that’s the kind of hero we love, isn’t it? I’m not talking about a hero who can cry. A man who’s not afraid to show his vulnerability or his insecurities only draws me in more.

So, okay, feel free to share more than one thought if you’d like (within reason; try not to give us a complex that we’re doing something wrong, please, and only one entry in the giveaway per commenter).

One last thought on behalf of all authors. I know you most likely tire of hearing us talk about it, but word-of-mouth recommendations and reviews are so importantfor authors (especially on Amazon). If you enjoy a book, please tell your relatives, friends, neighbors, and church members who enjoy Christian romance. Of course, Christian authors write for the Lord’s glory first and foremost, but I’ll be honest. A positive review gives authors encouragement that we’re doing something right and that our work is appreciated and valued. We’re human, and when we get a great review, it’s like a terrific grade on a report card. Positive reviews are also a good way to get our work known and promoted more by Amazon.

Get the idea? Okay, go! To sweeten the deal, I’ll gift a $10 Amazon gift card to one commenter, butyou must answer the posed question in order to qualify. From the comments posted by this coming Monday, September 26th, at midnight EST, the winner will be chosen this upcoming week and posted in next Sunday’s winner’s edition.

Until His Nets Are Full,

~JoAnnMatthew 5:16

My latest release is Whisper to My Heart, available exclusively on Amazon Kindle and Kindle Unlimited. Here’s the link if you’d like to check it out: http://amzn.to/2cfbr1C

The unlikely romance between a concert pianist and a construction worker.

After a decade of touring the globe, Manhattan-based classical concert pianist Annalise Redmond needs a break. What’s a Juilliard-trained musician to do when she wants to live a “normal” life for six weeks?

Weston Galloway, a former firefighter and member of an Atlanta-based construction crew, is as much into soul-winning as building the new bank in little Darling, Georgia.

Anna’s barely been kissed. Weston’s not looking for love. When these two souls collide in small-town Americana, is their time together destined only to be a precious memory or will they listen to the whispers in their hearts and dare to dream of a future together?

Throw in Anna’s quirky sister and brother-in-law, Weston’s challenging coworker, spirited employees at The Darling Diner, and a cast of lively townsfolk, and you won’t want to miss this journey to Darling!

COMING UP NEXT!!By Grace Draw Near, Book 3 in my Wondrous Love Series. Expected in late October/early November 2016.

Eric Masterson never expected to be promoted from cyclist to an executive position in his friend Sawyer Mancini’s successful pedicab business. His new job includes scouting out locations in Indianapolis and introduces him to many people with inspiring stories. One of the more fascinating individuals is beautiful Grace Warner, the owner of a downtown art gallery. She demonstrates compassion for those with disabilities, interprets for the deaf in her church, and seems willing to help everyone else. So why won’t she give him the time of day?

Grace Warner doesn’t know how many ways she can turn down the pedicab executive. No matter how handsome and appealing he is, she knows it’s best to ignore the man’s charms. While drawn to Eric, she can’t seem to get past their brief but memorable meeting a few years prior—a time when they both lived a much different, freer lifestyle. Although he seems a changed man and shares her faith in Jesus, Grace is determined not to remind Eric even as he seems equally persistent in wearing down her resistance.

Can these two find a common ground or are they destined to go in opposite directions?

USA Today bestselling author JoAnn Durgin is the author of over twenty novels since her debut, Awakening (Lewis Legacy Book 1), released in late 2010. Her books include the beloved Lewis Legacy Series, as well as its prequel, Prelude. She is also the author of Catching Serenity, Heart's Design, and Gentle Like the Rain, a sequel to Heart's Design. Other novels include Echoes of Edinburgh, The Wondrous Love Series, Perchance to Dream, and the popular Starlight Christmas Series. Her latest release is The Christmas Challenge and coming up next is Pursuit, the highly anticipated Book 8 in The Lewis Legacy Series. JoAnn lives with her family in her native southern Indiana and now enjoys writing full-time and spending time with her first granddaughter, Amelia Grace. Sharing the hope and joy to be found in a relationship with Christ is her passion, and JoAnn adores writing and reading Christian romance. She loves to hear from her readers via her website or her Author JoAnn Durgin page on FB!

Welcome to the community at Inspy Romance! The authors are so happy to see you. We offer two random commenters a $20 Amazon gift card every month, so don’t be shy! Jump in, and let’s get to know each other.

Comments

How did you know I hate secret baby stories! It is actually one story line I don’t like partly because I read Christian fiction and yes I know we are human and will be tempted but I struggle with the heroine having had a baby and then a couple years later she meets up with the hero again and he then finds out he’s a father and they all live happily ever after.

I also struggle with rich socialites as I can not relate to them at all and find them quite selfish and stuffy. I much prefer a battler or someone who is struggling to make ends meet or just comfortable and knows how to save money. I also prefer smaller towns to cities but then I am a country school.

A blurb will help sell me a book but please do not put in what happens 3 chapters from the end. I read a book once saying they had to marry due to circumstances and in the actual book they didn’t marry til about 3 books from the end of the book, This was really annoying as it gave way to much of the story away.

it was meant to say country girl not school. not sure where the school came from.

I mainly read Christian fiction as I don’t like swearing or sexual content. I am also not a fan of regency but that’s more because of having an issue with the superficial lifestyle of so many back then. I did however love navel stories set in the same time line.

I don’t like when I read a book and it starts out with a good storyline and the characters are likeable but somewhere in the middle of reading it’s a big pause…. you started losing focus and the likeable characters become so annoying it makes reading the book impossible to finish.

Book covers whet my appetite to read the blurb. I enjoy bright, cheerful covers with a normal looking people – not some half dressed hunk showing too much passion. But covers that are appropriate for the story’s message, setting and season. Then I read the blurbs and hope the blurb includes the major characters’ names, the conflict, and the setting (town and state or country).

I enjoy characters that are not main stream – who may be older, have unusual occupations, have an usual dilemma, and/ or live in unusual settings. I am not fond of secret babies or 10 year reunion or hidden wealth. Living on the eastern shores of Lake Michigan, I enjoy small town settings with a beautiful beach, lake, hills, orchards, or vineyards in close proximity of an urban area. As a Midwesterner, I am not fond of cowboy or Amish romances, they seem stereotypical. I live within an hour drive of southern Michigan and northern Indiana Amish country.

As a reader, one thing not mentioned is the formatting of e-books. Since I read in various settings on a variety of devices (iPhone, iPad, and Kindle Paperwhite) on a given day with lots of interruptions (I babysit my 3 year old granddaughter); I like to know how many chapters each romance or novella has, especially in boxed sets because I sometimes like peak at the last chapter of the book.

What I absolutely love is characters that have depth and small towns. I think its the relationships that seem to form… Nothing wrong with the big city, just partial to the small town setting because it feels more intimate. Character depth is important because we as readers need to know who we are reading about and that they are “real”… Flawed and all. The last thing I want you to know is how much you all are appreciated… Your time, your efforts, and your love for Christ!

Thank you so much for stopping by the blog, leaving a comment, and especially for your faithfulness in reading our books, Joelle! :) Readers like you keep us motivated to continue writing and releasing new stories. Blessings.

One thing that bothers me most is the lack of plus size lead characters. A couple of my favorite paranormal authors have plus size heroines but I don’t recall a single one in any of the love inspired books that I have read. Also my biggest pet peeve is a glaringly obvious inconsistency in a series and typos! He in place of she or vice versa etc. The book can otherwise be great but those errors jar me out of the story and bug me. I don’t so much blame the authors for that when editors are paid to catch and fix those errors.

Cassandra, have you ever tried writing to the editors at Love Inspired to suggest plus-size heroines? I know that’s a growing need and request from readers. I mentioned something to an editor once at a writing conference, and he said, “Tell us. We need input to know what readers want.” Just a thought. :) Typos are inevitable, but I agree that somewhere along the line they “should” be caught by editors or beta readers. Sometimes typos are caught and fixed right away, but if you read the first edition of a brand new book, that will often happen, sorry to say. I’m sorry if that disrupts your enjoyment of a story. I appreciate your stopping by and leaving your comments today on Inspy Romance! Blessings.

Thats a good point so many heroines etc are always skinny and also most are under 30 no mature age heroines its almost like if you are not married by 30 there is no hope when now days many are marrying later. I read a book once where they were late 30’s and it was so good and it was first marriage.

Ausjenny, I’m reading more and more Christian books with slightly older heroines now and even some older than that. When you do find books you like, that makes them all the more special. My heroines aren’t all skinny, but my primary point is that the HERO finds them beautiful no matter if they’re short, skinny, tall, bigger or however they look. :) He loves her for who she is inside as much as on the outside. In other words, the attraction between them should be much more than physical. Blessings, and happy reading!

Cassandra, at least one of my stories has a plus-size heroine, though her size is in no way an issue in the story. That’s Teapots & Tiaras. Being plus-size myself, I see most of my heroines as on the curvy side of average, though I have a couple who are tiny waifs too!

One issue authors have with plus-sized heroines is that it’s so hard to find suitable stock photos for covers! I could NOT find a decently dressed plus-size redhead on any of the stock photo sites, and I searched for hours every day for a week. :( I had to make do with just the head of a slimmer model.

One of my biggest romance peeves is those stories where the hero ignores her when she’s plus-size, she loses weight, and suddenly he wants her. Maybe juuuuust okay if there’s been a long gap and they’ve changed in other ways (like, he acknowledges how shallow he was before!), but otherwise, no, no, NO!

I think too many authors have a love story that has some kind of “attraction.” And although many love stories start like that, not all marriages/relationships are built on romance. There are some wonderful love stories that are built on respect, honor, duty, or maybe compatibility. I would love to see an author venture into an unlikely “love.” Maybe one where the couple gets married and begins to love each other through the storms of life.
The reason I say this is that, in scripture, most marriages were arranged and based on things that have nothing to do with romance or attraction. And these couples are known today, thousands of years later, for their love and respect for one another. Hope that helps in “some” way….

That’s why there are the marriage of convenience stories, Petra, and they are very popular now even in contemporary Christian romance. That’s also why the historical mail order bride books are also popular. Thanks for stopping by Inspy Romance and leaving a comment! Always great to see you here. Blessings. :)

As a reader, I stay away from authors who use profanity – even a little. I’m not often exposed to it and I absolutely HATE it included in Christian fiction. I don’t like to read books that take you too close to actual sex. I don’t want to hear that they did it again & again. I don’t like any lurid details. I’m looking for CLEAN Christian fiction. I hate and won’t even buy books that on the covers there are men without shirts or women too scantily clothed or in suggestive poses. As for the story line, I understand that some people commit sins such as having babies before they get saved or do things when they are backsliding. As long as there aren’t any of the lurid details, I don’t mind reading them. I absolutely adore the Christian writers whose books I’ve read, and love their God-given creativity! I want books that encourage and lift me up, and not books that “clutter” my mind by dabbling in “real life.” It’s not MY real life. I don’t read authors who leave too many mistakes in their book. I can understand a few, but not the whole book! It gets so distracting that I just won’t buy it. One author in particular has such a beautiful way with words that I LOVE to read her books. Another author is so terrible with words that I end up hating her heroines & heroes. I don’t buy her books because of it. And if the book spends 2-3 pages with just description at the beginning, it bores me. I’m not pulled into the story, so I stop reading it. I LOVE good “hook” lines and well-written books. Most of you Christian authors have gorgeous or stunning covers and are gifted with such wonderful creativity! THANK you & God bless you richly!!!!!

Thank you so much for your wonderful comments, Becky (I’m assuming it’s Becky)! :) I appreciate your candid comments without giving names or book titles. I must say that I completely agree there should be no profanity in a book classified as Christian. I also know some readers aren’t bothered by it. The challenge in Christian fiction is to write books without those lurid details that the rest of the world wants and yet we hope to have readers who aren’t Christian perhaps pick up our book and give it a try. I’m not saying that we should bend to the world at all, I’m saying our responsibility is to portray imperfect but redeemed and forgiven people who have given their lives to Christ and try their best to honor the Lord in their lives. In other words, show others His love through our actions and words and try to make an impact. If we can impact one life for Christ with our books, that’s the sweetest blessing I know. Thank you, and blessings to you! :)

I definitely agree with wanting to impact even one life. I LOVE portraying “imperfect but redeemed and forgiven people…” I know that some of the authors I shun may have an impact of people who wouldn’t normally read other books and I’m thankful for that too. Personally, I just don’t want to read their books.

Well, Robin, if you read my Lewis Legacy Series, it will go on until the Lord returns or takes ME home. LOL. I have a second series lined up right behind the first one where the original characters come and go. Then I’m contemplating writing the love stories of the children. I think Karen Kingsbury will keep her Baxter family going on in some way for a very long long time to come, too. So, there ARE some who will continue. I have to smile when I see a review of one of my series books that says they didn’t expect another one and were pleasantly surprised (a listing of all the books is in the front of most of the books, including the books still to come). And the beauty is that there are a LOT of series out there to love. Blessings, and thanks for your comment!

JoAnne, thanks for starting another thought provoking conversation! I’m loving reading the responses. This is one to bookmark and come back to!

Secret babies they are so good when done well, but so frustrating when they aren’t! The whole issue of a pregnancy out of wedlock needs to be handled so carefully. And she’d better have a VERY good reason for keeping that secret! I have two secret baby stories slowly working their way toward publication. One, the child is actually twelve when the hero finds out, he believed the baby had been adopted but discovers she kept the baby. The other, she kept her pregnancy secret to allow the hero to do something he’d worked and dreamed for. But making those reasons convincing in the story isn’t easy!

Hi, Autumn, and now you see why I love to ask readers these questions! :) And no problem whatsoever on the extra “e.” I have a secret baby story line in my Lewis Series. You’re right, though, and it needs to be handled very carefully. This does happen in real life, and in my book, it worked out well (IMHO) to show the hero’s redemption (the child was four, almost five). He hadn’t been ready to accept the responsibility of a child until that time. But it’s when HE comes back to make his apologies, a forgiven and redeemed man, that the heroine knew it was time and that he was ready. This CAN happen in real life. Plus, I’d challenge anyone to write book after book and not have that plot creep in there somewhere! LOL. But that’s why I love readers and their different responses. We’re all different, just as He created us. Praise the Lord! Blessings to you, my friend. :)

I love historical fiction that demonstrates excellent research; it is difficult to stay involved with an historical plot line that is superficial and serves simply as setting but teaches nothing about life events of the period.

Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment today, Helen! A very valid comment, especially when it comes to historical events, places, details, etc. I love to do research, and what I love even more is when readers tell me they discovered something new or learned something even in a contemporary love story! Blessings to you, and happy reading.

I love stories with some elements of intrigue or minor suspense full of twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the end. One of my big pet peeves is grammar and spelling errors. It drives me nuts when a published novel is not edited well. Thanks for asking!

Hi Sarah, and thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment today on Inspy Romance. Even among those of us who tend to be perfectionists, there are little things that slip through the cracks, unfortunately. But I agree that editing is crucial in the publishing process. Blessings to you, and thanks for reading Christian fiction!

Completely agreed, Merrillee. And, let’s face it, as authors we can’t write about the same types of heroes and heroines every time. That would be so boring and we’d lose readers! Blessings to you and thanks for the comment! :-)

I enjoy and am inspired by Christian fiction. But I don’t like a book that’s too preachy over getting on with the story. Also too cliche is where the couple are together then a misunderstanding happens and one or the other bolts without letting them know why. I’d rather they stay and talk it out and work on the problem.

Communication issues (or more lack of communication) in Christian fiction is big in many plots. I have to say I agree. My books tend to focus a lot on conversation and the couple has outside forces working against them instead of the internal forces if that makes sense. “Too preachy” is a matter of personal opinion, of course, but I think the key is working inspirational moments into the story NATURALLY. That alone can be a challenging thing but one most Christian authors willingly embrace. Thanks for your comment on Inspy Romance. Blessings!

I enjoy watching a character struggle with problems and choosing to follow God’s way! Also, I like to see a character keeping his or her relationship pure with a boyfriend or girlfriend. That is a real struggle too!

I agree completely, Beth! One of the biggest responsibilities I feel “charged with” from the Lord is honoring Him with my stories. His way is always best. And yes, staying pure in a God-honoring relationship is an age-old issue that Christian authors need to address, especially in romance IMHO. On a personal note, I hope you’ve read Whisper to My Heart since it addresses both of these issues. Blessings, and thanks for your comment today!

1. I love series of books because I hate when I feel like a story ended to soon. The characters feel so real, they feel like a part of my life, and I don’t want the stories to end!
2. I get annoyed when the same phrase is used too many times by the same author.
3 I really wish more Christian romance stories were made in an audio format for people that can’t see to read them.

Thanks for your comment, Linda. Have you seen the list of Inspy Romance authors’ books available on audio? It’s here on the Inspy Romance website. If you need help finding it, please let me know. I know authors have pet phrases and words, and sometimes we don’t even see them ourselves, I fear. :) If it’s in dialogue, however, sometimes it IS natural for someone to repeat something over and over (but I agree it does get annoying after you’ve read it more than a few times!). I’m glad you’ve found some series you enjoy. Many blessings!

Great question, JoAnn! I love all genres of Christian fiction, even though fantasy is hard for me to visualize. Having said that, I don’t like having to guess the setting of a story. Even if the dialogue is sparkling and the personalities of the characters intrigue, if the setting isn’t clear, I quit reading. Story without setting is like a holograph–floating in nothingness. Oops, you brought out my “rant” side!

Rants are okay, too, Kathleen! :) I just hope you don’t find the vagueness of setting in a contemporary Christian romance. Thanks for stopping by Inspy Romance, as always, and leaving your comment. Blessings!

I really dislike secret baby books, too. I know these show God’s love and redemption in spite of our human-ness, I prefer my hero/heroines to be pure. I usually just pass on these books. Also, if there is a lot of mentions about how physically attracted the characters are. I don’t mind the “tingles” or whatnot, but not the more “fleshly” mentions (if you know what I mean!). The first thing that popped into my head when I read the question was “Dialogue”. I love dialogue that feels natural and flows as if you were right there and not just put in because the characters can’t just stand around looking at each other.

I’m right there with you on dialogue, Becky. I lose interest quickly if the conversations sound awkward, stiff, or just plain dull. And one word I avoid in my books is “tingle.” LOL. I even had a conversation about that between my heroine and her sister in my current book. :) Blessings, and thanks for the comment.

I really dislike when all (or at least most) of an author’s main characters have the exact same struggles as each other. Mainly I’ve noticed it show up with sexual sin – and yes, that’s very prevalent so makes sense as a plot device – but couldn’t some of them struggle with bitterness or fear or something?

I think some authors do, in fact, have their characters struggle with bitterness and some kind of fear or another, Katy. The best thing to do (if you don’t already) is to read the Amazon description and then (if you want and don’t mind spoilers if they’re there), read the reviews. That might give you a better idea of the different types of books available to you as a reader. Blessings, and thanks for the comment!

I like to read stories that includer a character with a disability or rare illness. Especially if that character has a firmly grounded faith. I read a book recently with a 12 year old character with a rare nerve disorder. I learned about tyhat medical condition and my faith was strengthened by the character’s witness during adversity.

Thank you for stopping by Inspy Romance today and for your valuable input! I agree re: characters with some type of disability and how powerful their stories can be in (as you said) strengthening our own faith sometimes. I once needed an illness to afflict a hero in one of my books. I found one I’d never heard of before and researched it (an inner ear disorder that grounded him as an Air Force pilot). Come to find out, several readers have been afflicted with it for years and thankfully said my research was spot-on. They appreciated my bringing attention to it, and other readers thanked me for enlightening them. I love it when that happens, but I know, as always, it was the Lord’s guiding hand on me to write that particular story. Blessings, and happy reading!

I agree with a lot of the above comments! I do NOT like stories that emphasize the hero’s physical appearance. I get real tired of reading about his “six pack abs” and what he looks like with his shirt off. I much prefer those books that emphasize the characters’ personalities and attitudes. Since I’ve been married almost 43 years, I also like books that talk about life after marriage :-) I don’t really relate to 20 somethings anymore.

LOL, Margaret. I read that comment somewhere about smirking, and I’ve been careful not to use it too much. My mother says the same thing about “snort.” She said, “Do people really snort? Especially women?” We all have our pet peeve words, that’s for sure. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment at Inspy Romance today. Blessings, and happy reading.

Indeed, Robin, and a lot of authors (including me) like to write books with sequels. I often write one whether I intended to or not. :) I’m glad to hear you say you like long books since it seems a lot of them in contemporary Christian romance are shorter these days. Blessings, and thanks for your comment today! :)

First I want to say that I have not found any fault with any of the authors here at Inspy Romance. I learned a hard lesson when I branched off and tried what was suppose to be an Amish Christian series. I got hooked on the series but had to learn to overlook some of the more steamy romantic parts of the books in the series. It got so bad in the last book I read in the series that I stopped reading it and never finished it or even read the last book in the series. This happened a couple of years ago. I do not enjoy reading steamy “bedroom” scenes even if the couple is married. Sometimes I feel that parts of books like that are only used to fill up pages which isn’t necessary. I want to thank all of you for bringing to life books that I enjoy and can also be blessed by reading them. I like to feel good about myself while reading a book.

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment, Nancy! Wow. Steamy and Amish…trying to wrap my head around that idea. I like your last line, especially, about wanting to feel good about yourself while reading a book. Amen! I try to write books that will edify and glorify the Lord. I think many romance writers steer away from married couples as the main characters because of what you’ve mentioned here. I have seen a rather alarming trend even in historical romances with those especially steamy scenes. It’s a delicate balance to be sure. Blessings, and thanks for stopping by Inspy Romance today! :)

As a reader, it’s hard to sell me on a modern marriage of convenience story. I love the idea, but it is SO hard to pull off believably in our contemporary society. Secret babies are a bit more believable (to me, anyway) but, again, it’s hard to find a new twist. I’ve got one (hopefully quite unique) in my lineup, but there are a lot of books I need to write before I get to that one!

So many books. So little time. (Back to meeting today’s writing goals…)

Thanks, Val! I agree that creating a realistic story line with marriage of convenience stories in today’s contemporary society is a harder concept to accept. But the ones I’ve seen are very popular, proving readers still like that particular trope. Hope you’re getting a lot of writing done. Onward and forward! Blessings. :)

Hi Ann, and thanks for your valuable input (as always)! There seems to be a growing market for romances with older heroes and heroines. I often have them but usually they are secondary characters. I’m aware there are a few out there, however. Thank you for your faithful readership and leaving a comment! Blessings.

The cover of a book is one of the things that draws me to purchase a book. It makes an important first impression. I don’t like books that end in cliff-hangers. I enjoy series books as long as they don’t leave me hanging and wondering. I read almost exclusively Christian fiction now, because I don’t like the profanity and steamy scenes prevalent in books today. However, I don’t like it to be “preachy.” The message should be woven into the story so it’s well-integrated and not forced. In some books I’ve read, I feel I’m being hit over the head with the religious aspect. I like it to be more subtle.

It really distracts me from the story when there are editing mistakes–typos, inconsistencies, etc. I know it’s easy to miss mistakes when authors are re-reading their own work. It can help to have a couple of people read the book with fresh eyes to catch any mistakes, especially if those people are detail-oriented (or maybe OCD?) LOL Some people don’t notice the typos so much, but my crazy brain picks up on them and distracts me.

I really appreciate all the wonderful Christian authors who share their time and talents with their readers! Thanks for giving us such fantastic, uplifting stories! Hugs to you all!

I like faithful books but like to see how they struggle in today world. I have a job for one of your books people over look they are CRCST’s they do the surgical instruments and case carts for any surgery you or your family have. Since they usually are housed in the basement they get over looked but if it wasn’t for these people your surgery wouldn’t get done. Thanks for considering us.

I don’t know how interesting it would be, but what if the characters were plain, ordinary-looking people? It seems like all heroes/heroines are drop-dead gorgeous, the gals wear little or no make-up and they have perfect hair … all the time. There are many people that are not particularly “easy on the eyes” and have issues with their bodies ~ fat, skinny, tall, short, whatever. They can be fine, upstanding individuals with excellent moral character and solid Christian values. But the pretty people are in the books!!

Lexa Lewis isn’t known as a beauty but she’s beautiful in Sam’s eyes. Just for the record, not all characters in ALL Christian romances are beautiful. :) The point I’m trying to make is the person is beautiful in the eyes of their beloved. There ARE some heroes and heroines in Christian romances, believe it or not, who have physical imperfections. We have to acknowledge the truth, however, that a big part of romance is the FANTASY. Thus the Cinderella and her Prince story line in so many romances, Christian or not. Similarly, most romantic movies have the “pretty people” as the main characters, too. The women’s fiction genre tends to have more “normal” looking people without as much emphasis on the physical looks (not that Christian romance authors overemphasize physical looks as a general rule). As authors, we write to our audience to an extent while trying to infuse our characters with their own unique qualities, personalities, quirks, vulnerabilities and imperfections. Blessings, and thanks for the comment! :)

There are so many factors to me liking or not liking a story that I couldn’t possibly touch on them all! And sometimes I really can’t pinpoint the reason why. You’re making this reader think…lol! ;-) I’ll just stick with the examples you’ve given here JoAnn.

First and foremost, the genre. I generally read more historical or suspense not so much contemporary. Not to say I don’t read that genre, mind you. This is one of those examples that I can’t pinpoint the why. I love learning history though fiction and I have read some fantastic historicals that just blew my mind with the rich detail! I enjoyed the simpler times and a different lifestyle then our modern world. How the men treated the ladies with respect, honor and understanding…they aren’t so bold as to kiss on the first date if you will! Now that’s not to say that a book doesn’t feature a rake like that, but not in the hero. Unless of course, the author has several books in a series where she redeems him :-) Then I love reading about that! As far as suspense, again not sure I can pinpoint it. I love the heart-pounding thrill of the hero/heroine running from a killer, stalker, revenge seeker, etc. I love how they have to trust one another impeccably to not only make out alive, but to bring the killer to justice. Most times, the romance doesn’t play a huge role due to the suspense factor, but it’s still there sizzling under the surface. And when they DO fall in love….oh my stars! You know it was just meant to be :-)
Contemporary, I like the small town feel since I live in one. Where your neighbors know you, which can be annoying to the characters but there’s the underlying love for each other because they care. Those who have your back, help in times of need, hang out with and all that good stuff :-) As far as a place, it really doesn’t matter to me. I think for me in this genre, the secondary characters play a big role to the many layers of the story. Not that they completely take over the main hero or heroine, but add a dimension to the story. Just like each of us have our circle of friends who add to our lives :-) And it doesn’t always have to be small town setting for me to enjoy a story. As long as it’s a well written & believable one with lots of layers!

Plot; I don’t care for love triangles that much. Someone always “loses” and I hate to see someone disappointed in love. Again, if the author has a series and finds that characters perfect mate in the next book, then they’ve redeemed themselves in my eyes…lol! As far as babies, I think what I like the most is a widow who has lost her husband and is pregnant with his child. Or a widower who lost his wife in child-birth. I know in today’s world that is a rarity, but in historicals it can be much more common. I know that people make mistakes and things happen and I’m not discounting that. As long as the characters redeem themselves and live the right way, then I’m ok with that. Secert baby, not my forte either. I don’t believe there should be any major secrets like that. I think the heroine needs to be up front so the hero knows what he’s getting into. It drives me nuts when either one carries secrets (not just baby ones), and the author takes the entire book to have them reveal that secret. I really want to scream at them and throw the book across the room…lol! It makes me not want to read it honestly.
Now that I’ve told you what I don’t like, I’ll list the ones I do! Mail-order bride, Marriages of Convenience, Reunion love stories and Friendship to Romance. Again, most of this occurs in historicals but not always.

Lastly, book blurbs; I like summorizations that give clues as to what to expect in between the pages without revealing anything. I know that’s probably not a helpful comment but it’s the best I can do…lol! Something to wet my appetite and get me excited to read it. And a good book cover adds to the appeal. There’s not much I don’t like about a good cover…people or no people, animals, scenery…it’s all good to me. As long as it fits to the theme of the story. And I ADORE embossed covers that I can run my fingers over the lettering…brings a smile to my face every time :-)

I hope this helps. Sorry to be such a long post, but there’s just SO many factors to liking/not liking a book it’s hard to condense it. I could go on, but I think I’ve covered the basics. Thanks for asking for reader input, I do love telling the authors what I like or don’t like about a book :-) Blessings!

Thanks so much for your valuable input, Trixi! My readers know my men are always gentlemen (holding doors for the lady, etc.). Respect from a hero toward the heroine is a big deal with me. So, it CAN be present in contemporary novels. I always do research for my books, and nothing thrills me more than for a reader to tell me what they learned about a new subject in one of my books. Just to say please don’t discount a contemporary for those reasons. I’m with you that I don’t like an author to string me along an entire book without having a conversation! That is so frustrating! Secondary characters play a big part in a lot of my books, especially in my latest release (set in a small-town which tends to lend itself to that, in particular). I love my little town of Darling, Georgia (similar to Starlight, Iowa). There’s something uniquely special about them. But the big city books can also carry a sense of family, as well, in the close relationships (like my unique TeamWork family of mission workers). Thanks again for your input, as always, Trixi. Blessings and happy reading. :)

Several things irritate me while reading: when endings are rushed, when paragraphs or words are repeated due to bad editing, when a character name that is not in the story is used, and when a book is marketed as clean and wholesome is filled with sex. It seems like some authors rush the ending; there are 15 chapters of buildup, 1 chapter, they get married, happily ever after. It irritates me to no end! The other ones should be givens. I like to read a well thought out and devlooed story that is well-edited.

Something that I like is when previous characters are revisited and the book shows their struggles. The story doesn’t end when you say I do, that’s when it truly begins. There will be trials and struggles. When stories end at the wedding, it can create false ideals. Anyways, that’s what I’ve got :)

I like what you’ve got, Nina. :) Thank you so much for stopping by Inspy today and leaving your comments. We love to hear from our readers! I agree re: the buildup and then *bam* they’re married and that’s it. As you know, that’s why I can’t seem to let go of characters and write more books with them continuing on after they’re married. And I completely agree about books marketed as clean and wholesome and they’re decidedly NOT. Blessings, and happy reading!

Books where the women act like/think they are better or more put together than the men and that the men are just big, overgrown children. I can’t stand it when female characters all join together in that mentality and talk about the men in such a way. Nor can I stand it when female characters refuse to except help from a male or get upset or mad at the hero when the hero tries to help them in some way. That drives me crazy! Men and women both have wonderful roles to play and they each have their own weaknesses and strengths and are important to the story.

Repeated miscommunication or lack of communication also gets to me. I read a book once that I was SO frustrated with b/c the two main characters had repeated misunderstandings, hurt feelings, etc. b/c they did NOT ever talk to the other person before jumping to conclusions. Once a book is just about enough for me. Use the brain God gave you and learn from your mistakes that it’s important to communicate, to truly listen to each other, and to go to each other and get the whole story before you jump to conclusions. I can’t take it when a book has repeated situations like that. The way I see it, if they do that through out the whole book, but still get together in the end, how can I trust that their HEA will actually last if they don’t seemed to have actually learned how important honest, intentional communication is!?

I’ve also read a book or two where a character left some info out about themselves, and though they had chances to tell the other about it, they chose not to. I don’t care for those situations either. I can’t stand when conversations are repeatedly interrupted or put off so the character decides the time isn’t “right” to reveal the truth. In my opinion, you make it happen. Truth is important and lying by omission can be just as bad as flat out lying. When you have something you need to reveal to someone, you don’t let an interruption in conversation stop you. You say,” I really need to talk to you about this right now” and you ask the person who interrupted to wait. More often than not, those times when characters allow interruptions to get in the way and say the timing just wasn’t “right” because the conversation was interrupted, they are just making excuses not to reveal the truth.

Anyway, those are some of my biggest pet peeves. Thanks for the chance to vent! :)

Nodding my head, Julie. Thank you so much. I agree with you and thank you for venting to us! That first point is one that hasn’t been mentioned yet, and you’re exactly right. Great observations! I also don’t like put-down humor where the hero or heroine is rather mean to the other. Not in a teasing way, but in an insulting way. To me, that shows a basic lack of respect and bugs me to no end! So, thanks for allowing ME to vent. :) Thanks for your faithful support of Christian authors. Blessings, and happy reading.

JoAnn, one of the many things I find frustrating about books is to pick up what looks like a great story, judging by the cover, and find that the cover does not match what’s inside the story. I also cannot stand it when an author has to spell out everything for the reader, especially when it comes to the romance department. If there’s nothing left to the imagination, we may as well watch a movie. Most of us have been in love and know what happens. Leading the reader up to, but not telling them explicitly what is happening is much more exciting and romantic to me. If the reader can figure something out on their own, if it’s obvious what is going to happen or what a character is doing, don’t spoon feed us. That’s what I’m trying to avoid when I write.

Hi Sharon, and thanks so much for dropping by our Inspy Romance blog and commenting! I hear you regarding what’s between the covers of a book not matching the promise of the front cover. I love the witty banter and the conversation, i.e., the lead up to a kiss as much as the kiss itself, to be honest. There’s something so sweet about the anticipation! :) And you’re right, it’s much romantic to leave something to the reader’s imagination. Showing and not telling is crucial in a well-written story. Many blessings to you!

Hi JoAnn, I also enjoyed your blog as usual. I do have to agree with the lady who mentioned that most of the heroines are tiny, seldom plump. That isn’t realistic when it comes to life! (I did recently read the “Teapots and Tiaras” and remember that the heroine was actually quite believable, size wise. Let’s face it, people come in all sizes! :) Life would be so drab if it wasn’t for our differences, too.

Of course, I absolutely adore marriages of convenience for unusual reasons. Respect is essential, honor, and trust. There is something so romantic about those stories. I believe that we all prefer to be in love with the person we marry, but there are times when parents are wiser than their children when it comes to choosing a mate. So yes, I’m a huge fan of those stories! Usually too, those stories have layers about character and perhaps a difficult past, but then the grace of God makes a difference.

You already know though that I love and appreciate your books. Thank you for your wonderful stories which you share with us. Hugs my friend.

Thank you, Faith. Teapots & Tiaras was written by Inspy’s own Autumn Macarthur, and I loved it, too. There are a few stories out there with plus-sized heroines. You can see my earlier responses otherwise. A majority of readers still like the Cinderella stories. Overall, however, it’s the MESSAGE in Christian books that’s most important, not the size of the characters or how pretty or not, or how well off (or not) they are…or anything else. Blessings, and thanks for your support of the blog, my books, and Christian romance authors! :)

You asked lots of questions. I’ve had answers going in my head all day! I like covers with and without people . However if it is historical fiction, I am drawn in by the women’s clothing since that declares a time period. Likewise I am warned away from covers of people without enough clothing on. I am very, very thankful for Christian authors who write clean literature. I am not sure how I found inspyromance,but am thankful I did. I was having a really hard time finding books I could read that were clean. I like some detail, but not pages of the same scene. I find I prefer some type of action to too much description. However my husband enjoys lots of detail.
Thank you for all your hard work! !!

You’re welcome, Diana! Technically, I only asked ONE question but gave lots of examples to spur on responses and to get everyone thinking. :) I’m glad you found Inspy Romance, too! And I like at least some interesting interaction or something to keep a reader interested, but details are good. It’s finding that balance that works–now THAT’S the key! Thanks for stopping by and leaving your valuable input. Many blessings!

My dear JoAnn,
I like authors that reach and grab you in the first sentence.
I am all for covers and blurbs that draw you in.
I like manly men that aren’t afraid to show a little of their feminine side and strong women that don’t give up when the going gets rough.
Most of all I love whe God and Jesus ,our Savior is at the forefront.

Amen, Linda! That’s exactly right. It’s the message that counts most and that the Lord is honored in Christian fiction. But I agree with everything else you said, too. Then again, I’m sure you know that. :) Thank you so much for your faithful readership in supporting authors of Christian fiction. Many blessings to you, and thanks for stopping by Inspy Romance today and your comment.

I have a tendency to message authors and tell them what I think of their books.
I have one pet peeve when it comes to books that claim to be Christian yet neither main character bothers to pray about what is going on in the romance. Christians should pray. Christians should trust God most of the time. I like books where it’s two flawed people seeking God’s will and surprised to discover the one God intended for them

Great responses, Amy! I know a little something about those messages. I’m just thankful you enjoy my books. :) A true Christian romance should show characters who pray IMHO. We’re all flawed in one way or another, but I agree that it’s especially sweet when two people find the one God intended for them much to their surprise. Love it! Blessings, and thanks for the input.

I’m with you, Kathleen! Being wishy-washy, as I call it, is a personal pet peeve. And yes, certainly a person should remain true to one’s beliefs in seeking and following God’s will instead of our own. Sometimes characters need to learn lessons the hard way, but I’m sorry you’ve found too many books where characters frustrated you in that regard. Thank you for your comment. Blessings!

I love books that make me feel. I love it when a scene causes me to cry or burst into laughter. I enjoy a perfectly imperfect hero or heroine. Characters where I can relate to their problems or circumstances. As a result billionaires/millionaires do not really qualify neither do gorgeous models. I also do not like when the cover shows a blond woman and the main character is brunette. I just read a book when the heroine has a deformed foot but the cover showed two perfect feet. I was disappointed but I do understand that it would be almost impossible to find a matching photo. Lastly, I really dislike unanswered questions or unresolved issues. I have even written the author to ask what happened. This is a really fun discussion. It made me stop and think.

Hi Patti. I’ve always said I want to my books to make people laugh, make them cry, and make them THINK most of all. My husband told me some famous football coach said that once, and here I thought it was original. Maybe I’d heard it at some point and it stuck in my head. I don’t know, but what I DO know is that it applies to book writing and a reader’s perception. The billionaire stories are crazy popular although I have no reason why, especially in Christian fiction. Granted, I had a very wealthy man in my last Lewis Legacy Series book, but I hope I did a good job of explaining his circumstances and making him someone to whom readers could relate. He’s a man with problems and vulnerabilities just as we all are. I completely agree about covers not matching characters and the resolved issues can certainly be frustrating. I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the discussion! Thanks, as always, for your faithful support of Christian authors and the books we write. Blessings.

Let me start with saying thank you for asking this question. For a long time I have wanted authors to know that some of us are looking for characters whose physical appearance is more realistic. I really appreciate books where the hero/heroines are curvaceous, bald, short or something ordinary and yet they were loved and valued for who they are.
I am older and would love more stories where older people (40, 50 plus) meet and fall in love. Also stories that include the heroine having kids with special needs or are handicapped I think would appeal.
I did a survey of the readers here in my house and realistic seems to be a theme. The 16 year old noted she does not like the “fall in love at first sight” or “the marriage of convenience” books. She likes stories that seem like what happens in real life.
My one pet peeve is when a book is re-released with a different cover. I have actually printed out the old cover and taped it inside the re-released copy of the book. In my mind, the mental picture is of the people from the original cover, that’s who the characters are. That said, it’s critical that the picture on the front match the authors description in the book. I read a book recently and the cover had a beautiful blonde and the author description was of a brunette.
I think that Christian authors who write these books are amazing! The books you write grow my faith and bless my life. So thank you!!

Hi Robin, and thanks for your comments and valuable input! I think (and hope) you’ll find more books like what you’ve described. I have an autistic son and am going to spotlight a child modeled on him in an upcoming book in my long-running series. By that time, my readership will have grown to shine even more awareness on autism (at least that is my hope and prayer). I’m so glad to know that my question generated interest in your household and that you asked your family! That tickles me. :) I think most books, to a certain extent, reflect real life, although sometimes it’s in the secondary characters where they’re perhaps not as glamorous. Depends on what you’re reading, of course, but there is certainly something out there for most tastes and preferences, even in Christian fiction. I agree about the covers not matching the character’s description. Thank you again for your comment and for your thoughtful answers! Many blessings, and happy reading! :)

Oh my. Well I love historical fiction, and British Fiction in particular, because I am British! However, I do find that whilst this genre is very popular, its not always done very well. One of my pet peeves in British fiction, especially Regencies or novels set in the Edwardian Era is Americanisms in the characters’ speech or manners.
Seriously, it is so jarring to have supposedly British characters talking about the ‘sidewalk’, eating ‘dessert, wearing ‘pants’, pulling back the ‘drapes’, doing something for ‘a quarter hour’ and putting cream in thier tea. No, no and no again…we don’t say those things, we say pavement, pudding, trousers or breeches, and curtains, and we certainly don’t drink tea like that.

Its jarring at best, and at worst, it suggests laziness and bad research, personally, I find I can just tell from reading that authors of books like that have never set foot in the British Isles.
I know the books have to be understandable to American readers, but I think at least some effort should be made, especially since the only exposure some people will have to British culture at that time is in novels and TV shows.

You’re probably getting the picture that historical innaccuracy annoys me, but my other problem is the imposition of modern ideas as values onto characters in historical fiction, esp. that set in the distant past. I want to feel immersed in the period and the world, not feel that I am being lectured with modern ideology.

However, when a Regency or Medieval novel is done well, and reflects the langauge, beliefs, ideas and cultural norms of time, then its likely to recieve my hearty endorsement. Moreso if it makes me think, or if it really brings to life events or a period which I knew something about in a vivid way.

Thank you and welcome to Inspy Romance, British Lady! I adore everything English and spent the spring of my sophomore year in college in London and touring the UK and then the European continent. I long to return! I appreciate your comments very much! I have some readers in the UK and so far I’ve had two Brits in my books (with one coming up in a few more books), and I pray I’ve done them justice. My books, however, are contemporary and not historical. For my upcoming book which travels to the UK (you can see the cover on my website at http://www.joanndurgin.com), I researched to find some interesting historical facts of interest in and around London. I had a ball! Blessings to you, and thanks again for your valuable input.

I’d like a break from the typical plot line-boy meets girl from his past, one has a secret that could tear them apart, they grow closer, secret revealed, they end up together anyway. That plot line is way overdone.

Similarly, in the suspense novels, it would be nice if the boy and girl could find the bad guy without the girl nearly dying at the end. I don’t know hand change the plot line, but something different would be nice.

Thanks for your comments, Anna Marie! My latest heroine is Annalise (Anna). :) Most of my books focus on new relationships instead of the hero and heroine having known one another from the past. A lot of authors find that difficult to write since it takes more time to develop their relationship instead of building on the history between the characters, but I thrive on it! I appreciate your input. Blessings!

I love clean Christian romances, but I become frustrated when a situation brings a couple together, the couple falls in love, but the situation is left unresolved. I realize that not all situations can be resolved or the author is setting up a series around a situation, but sometimes it is like the story is totally about the romance and once love is declared the story is over. I’m usually sitting there thinking, “So, what happened?” Thanks to all Inspy writers for their courage and commitment to writing faith-filled clean romances that honor God.

Hi there! Hmm… I have to say I’m thankful I haven’t read too many books that left situations unresolved and “hanging.” I can see where that would frustrate you. I always have the HEA (happily ever after) for the main couple in my books BECAUSE I know how irritating it would be for me as a reader to have that happen. I appreciate your input and faithful encouragement and support of Christian authors! Blessings.

I don’t eally care whether the story is in a large city ot a mor rural setting. I really prefer longe books that give time for character developement & letting the story evolve over a readonable timeframe. I really like when the characters openly prayer over one another! Most mail order stories are short & seem to end with ‘strangers’ suddenly being ‘in love’ wich i find hard to believe when they hardly seem to know each other, altho i do believe love is a choice and we can learn to love/care about someone but you need to have time to learn about their character first. I have an issue with a plethora of typos & mistakes but can usually ignore the occasional one. I usually avoid fantasy ones but there is one Christian author who seems to do a good job of it but who shall remain nameless!

Thanks for your comments, Gail! I’m glad you’re open-minded in terms of a setting. I always say that characters and story trump all. Of course, a lot of it depends on the writing. I think a lot of the contemporary books tend to be shorter than their historical counterparts, but there are some long ones, so something for everyone! Very good and insightful input. I appreciate your stopping by Inspy Romance today and leaving a comment (and glad you’ve found a Christian fantasy author you enjoy)! Blessings.

It seems I am constantly watching my weight – so I really hate it when authors write a lot about food – what they ate and what they cooked, etc. – because it makes me then want to eat whatever they were talking about! It’s probably just me but I can already assume the characters are eating – I don’t need to know it was yummy pizza with x, y, and z toppings! Or the best dessert she had ever had – or even ooey, gooey, brownies.

I also don’t like any profanity or sex in my Christian Fiction (and I don’t read anything but Christian fiction) because I just don’t need to put it in my head. Some writers add it to make the story more “real” but I have enough real that I don’t need more of that!

And lastly, I love a story that teaches me something, even if it isn’t much or isn’t the main focus but something I can take away from the book besides just enjoying it.

I agree about the overabundance of food in some books! I read one author once who went into great detail about a girl eating a pickle. I love pickles, but I don’t want to read two paragraphs about the pickle. At least it wasn’t brownies, I guess, or I probably would have to make some that same day! :) I do a lot of research for my books, and I LOVE when readers tell me they learned something new. In my most recent book set in Texas, I taught a lifelong Texan about an artist well-known for painting the famous bluebonnet flowers so prevalent during a certain season in Texas. That was so nice to hear. I really love research, so even for contemporary books, there’s always something new to learn. Thanks for your input and we appreciate that you read Christian fiction. Many blessings!

Hi Caryl, and thanks for stopping by Inspy Romance! Chewing on the lip is a common habit (as is raking fingers through the hair for the hero). Those are old standbys in Christian romance (or any romance, really). Goes with the territory. I try to limit them now. I agree about the impact and wanting a “takeaway” from any book I read. Thanks for your valuable input! Blessings.

WOW, there are so many (great) answers and I think you’re getting where you want and I’ll probably sound repetitive (I started reading answers but skipped to the end after one point). On the one hand I think you hit some important issues in your own post (e.g., secret baby, some depth but not too much unnecessary details) and I agree with many of the previous posts (e.g., profanity and secret baby must be dealt with carefully, accuracy of plot, imperfect but likable/relatable characters, …).
A few other things to add:
–>I don’t really care where the story happens (urban vs rural, US vs overseas, mission site vs home town..) as long as the story is well constructed (that being said, I like being introduced to some new locations and sometimes I actually end up putting them in my places-I-want-to-visit list);
–>Same goes for heroes and heroins–I don’t mind if they are tall/short, oversize/regular size, rich/poor, but I definitely don’t care to spend too much time discussing these details (e.g., oh I’m so much poor/fat/short than my friends that I don’t deserve to be here..) unless you’re writing a story that focuses on it, I definitely prefer when they have a character (rather than being thrown around by other people and not standing on their own–strong characters are nice, but don’t think every book needs one); I alway don’t like stories around pets instead of people—they take so much energy to get focus;
–>I like strong Christian male characters like mission directors or church group leaders (but I understand not every book can have one and that’s totally fine, but I have thing for characters who rely solidly on the Scripture and are okay to share their thoughts and prayers with others), I definitely like characters who are bold enough to go out there and show their faces, but also ones that help their fellow friends to stay on their feet;
–>I think secondary characters are extremely important but it is hard to find goods authors like yourself who know how much space to give them in a book (like a well intended friend that nudges in the right directions, or a neighbor that knows just what to say, or even family.. in some series it is really nice to see the same characters showing up over and over again and supporting each other without stealing the spotlight);
–>I like enticing books covers (with or without people in it.. a nice starry night might be enough), but don’t like when books covers change from time to time–if you like another book cover, use that in another book instead of constantly changing (not your case so far, but common for some authors);
–> I like being able to tell how many chapters there are in the book and sometimes go back and forth without getting lost on the kindle page/chapter (I often go back and try to find where I’d read something previously and what exactly the character had said/done, or sometimes I skim through a book to find more about a hero/heroin from one book and how did she/he act when they were secondary characters in another book.. now that is okay if I’d finish the book and don’t need to know where to go back to, but if I didn’t, then it is tricky to find an exact page/chapter later);
–>There are a few things about writing style and plot that I can’t really explain how I like them or not, but I definitely realized over time that once I find 1-2 books that I really like from a particular authors, there’s a 95% chance I’ll like everything that author writes, regardless of plot etc, this is mostly true (there are always one or two books that I don’t care much, they are just okay), so if I have a choice, I’ll always go with the certain authors than interesting plots or covers or character stories (e.g., I never thought I’d care for story about a construction worker, a Wall Street broker, a chief accountant, TV anchor, or someone living from a trust fund the way I did);
… okay, so I could probably continue to write this list for a long time, but I think you have a lot of interesting replies to your post so far. Hope you can make good use of everyone’s inputs.
I’m also glad I delayed my answer for a day so I could sit in a computer to write this instead of how I usually do from my phone.

Priscila, I think I may have to copy your response down (along with all the others) and keep them in a file! They are that good and such valuable input. Thank you so much for the feedback. I think a good author can make ANY character interesting in any setting and given any circumstances. I’ll confess you made me a bit uneasy there a couple of times since I understand you’re talking about MY characters. But, as a reader, you know I like to vary my stories and show characters from ALL walks of life. If all our stories were the same, that would be B-O-R-I-N-G and readers would quickly tire of our books. I must say that the reason I don’t personally put a Table of Contents in my books is because a faithful reader told me once that she almost didn’t read my book because she saw it had so many chapters (the first book of mine she’d ever read; thankfully, she loved the book and has read most of them now). There is a way to search for something on the Kindle, and that’s easier than using a TOC, but those are just my own thoughts. :) Box sets definitely need an index of some kind, however. A couple of last notes: I asked the publisher of my Starlight books to have one cover with a dark starry night, but they didn’t want to do that. They did honor my request for “no people” on those particular covers. I resisted putting “people” on my Lewis Series (except for Prelude when the image was perfect) but have been using images if they fit the characters in my other books. Many blessings to you, Priscila, and thanks for your faithfulness to Inspy Romance and the books we write! :)

I bet you have material from these replies to your post to read and re-read many times, but I agree you should just continue to write the stories the way you do (you can never write boring and I really like how you can make them all so different and yet great all over again). I particularly love them all (which is why I feel comfortable mentioning your characters to you… no need to feel uneasy! ;) I’d never meant for that).
My first book in the Lewis legacy was actually Moonbeams and I have bought a box set with the previous four books and never stop reading your other books from then on. I love that cover just like all others (can’t put a finger on any of yours that I dislike). They are all kind of whimsical (I think I’ve mentioned that to you before).
Also I should say my comment about secondary characters might not have expressed the direction of my thoughts, but I do love all yours (I know you asked for no book names, but it is impossible not to say how important Sam is in every book of the Lewis Legacy series and it wouldn’t be the same without him or Lexa), many others played an important role in other stories (like Ava’s mom, Candee’s son Connor, and Shelby’s father’s friend Robert, just to name a few) and I think a story without them is just boring… but not everyone can write good secondary characters and they annoy me if they take the spotlight or just drag the story down in a way that seems unnecessary.

Thank you, Priscila. You are very kind. I appreciate your pointing out some of my secondary characters. Shows me they’re not forgotten. :) I didn’t realize you’d started my series with Moonbeams. Also good to know. Enlightening AND encouraging. Secondary characters can take over if we allow them, and that’s why we often need to give them their own story (think Colin Young in Sleigh Ride Together with You). Blessings, and thank you again! :)

While I am a fan of the word of God, I am not a fan of characters who spout Scripture in dialogue, chapter and verse. As if this happens in real life! I’m also not a fan of sanitised fiction, that is to say, we clean up the language and the bad decisions of characters, so as to come into some guideline somewhere, but the character is so fake, it’s frustrating. When I write characters, I am aware of the Chrisitian reader preference, but I’m also aware that I want to present a character that people identify as real. It is a conundrum as a writer, but when I read an author whose characters and story are gritty and real I race to put up a good review. When it is all Christian-land, sweet as pie, with characters who are so Christian it’s unbelievable, I spend the novel eye-rolling, sometimes groaning out loud (really), and on occasions ditching the story. God is well aware of how we really behave and speak, and His grace reaches out to love us, guide us and help us to grow. But we aren’t automatically perfect, and we hope to reach a world who’ve got no idea what we are on about.

Thanks for your input, Meredith. I agree that we need to portray realistic characters. Christians certainly aren’t perfect, but we can be a light in a dark world. I agree about the chapter and verse for Scripture unless the character is actually reading it from a Bible. I wish you the best with your own writing and, always, be true to yourself and the story the Lord gives you to write. I’m sure there will be readers who will embrace it! Blessings, and I appreciate your stopping by Inspy Romance.

Okay, I would tell Christian authors, especially once that publish indie to invest in a high quality design for your book cover! If the graphics, composition, photoshopping, etc. are amateurish, I automatically assume the writing is also sub par. I’ve been proven wrong in a few cases, but it took a strong recommendation from a fellow book reviewer who is honest about what she does/doesn’t like in books. I still cringe when I post a review on my blog for a book with a cover that is hideous, even if I liked the content.

What perturbs me to no end is when Christian authors use the Lord’s name in vain, use expletives, or go too far on the sexual aspect of things. I always thought that, as Christian authors, we have the responsibility and honor to write clean books that don’t draw our readers into temptation. Unfortunately, there are many books out in the Christian market that really could have “general market” slapped on the cover.

Hi Andrea! Always great to see you here. :) I completely agree all the way down the line. I downloaded such a book this weekend as a matter of fact. The author is excellent, no issues there. However, it barely touched on anything spiritual and not one character in the novel exhibited faith or even much growth in that area. And the novel was released by a major Christian publisher. I hope to never receive a review that says it felt as though the Christianity was “thrown in” and didn’t emerge as a natural part of the story line. Honestly, I would be crushed to hear that. Needless to say, I was very disappointed and felt the author, editors, and the publisher missed a prime opportunity. All this to say, let’s pray for Christian authors and publishers to make our work stand out and be that shining light to an increasingly dark world. Matthew 5:16 Blessings to you, and thanks for your input.

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